Dispensing means for containers



Patented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPEN SIN G S FOR CONTAINERS William A. Smith and William W. Smith, Bronxville, N. Y., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to F. N. Burt Company, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 19, 1942, vSerial No. 447,720

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-548) This invention relates to improvements in nonmetallic dispensing means for containers, for example, to an improved container cap for dispensing and sprinklingrne powder, and the like.

One of the main features of this invention, is the improved structure providing for interchangeability ofthe operative non-metallic parts from one form to another form of dispensing device, in which a knob-like non-metallic element provides the pivotal and securing means for the rotary closure vdisks or shutters.

Another feature of this invention, is the construction of the knob-like closure operating memlber with improved retaining means therefor that provides for the instant assembly and automatic engagement of the parts, in which a washer or 'similar retaining member is secured in operative position by means of lugs or retaining notches on the voperating knobthereby securing all the op' erating members tothe end wall, or cap portion of the container. l l i AccordingA to anotherv feature of improvementl of this invention the dispensing closure has been especially designed to adapt it for constructionV from non-metallic materials, such .for example,V

as paper-board, plasticmaterials, wood and the like, thus conserving metals. u

Other'features of improvement of thisinvention will'be in part pointed out inthe following detailed description of certain illustrative but preferred embodiments of the invention, andwill Abein part obvious as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordinglyV comprises, the features of construction, combination of elements, andarrang'ement of parts, Vwhich will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter setforth; and the scope of the application-of which will be indicated in the claims. 1

For amore completeV disclosure of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention, referencev is had to the following detailed description and tothe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 4 is an exploded or disassembly view in perspective of the parts embodied in Fig. 3;'

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a further modication embodying a single sealing means on the outer top portion of the container, or cap;

Fig. 6 is an exploded or disassembly view in perspective of the parts embodied in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Figfl but showing a further modification;

Fig. 8 is a perspective on a reduced scale of the container and powder dispensing means shown inFigs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top view in perspective, of the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the knob member;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a side view of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 shows a modication of one of the sealing members.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, and first to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, a top portion or end wall 6 of a container C is shown, having a central aperture i and small powder dispensing holes 2 at its outer portion. Mounted on the head or end wall 6 is.

aknurled or notched rotary disk member 3 having spaced peripheral notches 3a and ridgesY 3b, and an elongated central aperture 4 and aY small dispensing opening 5 at the outer portion thereof. Arranged inside of the top portion 6 of the container C, is another rotary disk member l having a central Substantially rectangular aperture 4 with slits I and a small opening 5' in aligned or registering relation with the dispensing aperture 5 of the disk 3. Interlocking ofthe outer and inner closure disk members 3 and 'l with the intermediate top portion or head (ir of the container C,- is accomplished by a knob or disk operating element 8'having oppositely disposed recessed or shoulder portions Il and an elongated stem por- "tion 9u inserted through all of the central apertures l, 4 and 4. The stem 9a is oblong in shape having oppositely disposed flat surfaces and curved or rounded ends 8c below which the V-shaped recesses or notches l! are respectively positioned, `and the lower end has Ainwardly inclined surfaces 9 forming a tapered lower extremity for the stem. The curved ends 8c and the` at or` straight sides of the stem 9a respectively engage fwith the corresponding straight and curved edges of the apertures 4 and 4 of the outer and inner disk members 3 and 7, thus non-rotatably securing the disks to the stem for rotation by the latter. When the stem Sa is thus inserted, it pro vides interlocking means for securing the disk members in operative position on the outer and inner sides of the top wall or head 6. The slits I form locking tabs Ill swingingly connected to the disk l' which are engaged by the tapered end 9 of the stem thus downwardly deflecting the tabs IB' into interlocking relation with the V-shaped shoulder portions l I.

It will be noted that the locking tabs Iii' are engaged by the entering stem 9a and deflected inwardly and downwardly from their normal position in the plane of the disk, and that they are automatically caused to engage in interlocking relation with the shoulders il of the stem, thus securely holding all the operating parts in assembled relation. Also, it will be seen that the swinging locking tabs I have free swinging ends that engage in locking relation with the shoulders I I of the stem Qa. These free ends of the looking tabs have substantially straight edges complementary with the shoulders II thus tending to lock the disk I and the stem 9a against relative rotation. Also, the action of the interlocking tabs Iii is to retain the closure disks 3. and 1 and the head 6 in close contacting relation to maintain a substantially siftfproof seal. The flattened sides of the stein 9a engage with the straight edges oi the aperture 4 to. secure the disk I Y against relative rotation with the stem da whereby the disk can be rotated by means of the knob 8 to move the disk into opening and closing positions. Thus by engagement of the locking tabs I0 with the shoulders II, and by engagement of the flattened stern 9a in the aperture 4', there is no danger that the locking position of the locking tabs can accidently become displaced or disengaged by any relative rotation between the disk l and the stem 8o. As shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the disk I is in the form of a sheet member serving both as a closure `for the dispensing opening 2 and as a part of a looking device cooperating with thev stem 9a to Vlock the parts in assembled relation against separation thereof.

In operation, when the notched disk 3 is moved the inner disk 1, whereby the small openings 5 and 5' come into alignment with the small holes 2 of the stationary top portion or head 6, so thev powder may be sprinkled therefrom,I after which the finger F moves the openings 5 and 5 of the disks 3 and I to their inoperative position as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. la, in which the small holes 2 are completely sealed between the outer and inner disk members 3 and I. Suitable means for limiting the oscillation of' these disk members is shown in Fig. la, in which the top portion 6 of the container Cis cutaway at Ib adjacent to the curved ends Ic of the aperture IV soV as to provide stop lugs positioned marginally of the aperture andengageable with the iiat opposite surfaces of the stem Sa to limit rotation of thestem in either direction, thus providing limi-ting means for limiting the openingyand closing movements of the closure disks.

In Figs. 3 and 4, a single sealing means is shown,

and the outer disk member 3 of Fig. 1 is omitted 'F and a sheet locking member or locking washer IZ with a substantially rectangular aperture 4 is substituted to complete the interlocking arrangement, the washer having similar slitted portions Iil that form tabs I il as in the disk member I oiFiJg.,1.

j this disk forming a single sealing closure.

In operation of the embodiment of Figs. 3 and l the knob 8 is turned to move disk 'I so the opening 5 comes intoV alignment with holes 2 for the powder sprinkling operation. In other respects the operation of this embodiment and the functioning of automatic locking device are substantially as above set forth inconnection with Figs. 1 and 2. g

In Figs. 5 and 6, the inner disk 'I of Fig. l is omitted and the outer notched disk member 3' is oscillated for the powder sprinkling operation, But

i in this embodiment as in those of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and Y oi' Figs. 3 and 5,.

4, an interlocking device for attaching the stem 9a to the closure is used including the inner locking washer I2 similar to that of Figs. 3 and 4, having the inwardly swinging locking tabs I0 and the'central aperture 4".

In the embodiment of Fig. '7 a single inner rotary closure and sealing disk 'I' similar to the disk 'i of Fig. l is employed., The closure disk 7' is rotated in its opening and closing move ments by a handle or knob 8 having attached thereto yielding metallic prongs 9b extending downwardly through the central aperture of the container head and through the central aperture of the closure disk I in a manner similar to the stein 9a of Fig. l, and performing similar functions. These yielding prongs have locking shoul v ders l i' similar to the locking shoulders I I of the stem .fia and adapted to interlock with an inner retaining washer I2b similar to the washer I2 Also, the prongs 9b have inwardly inclined lower` extremities I3 adapted to engage with the edges oi: the retaining washer 2b at the inner opening thereof during assembly oi the parts, when the prongs are moved down wardly into assembled relation through the central apertures of the containerhead and closure disk l". The prongs are thus' automatically interlocked with the retaining washer to retain the parts in assembled relation.

Since certain changes may be made in the above. construction and diierent embodiments ofthe invention could be made `without departingirom the scope thereof, itis intendedthat all matter contained in the above. description or 4shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described, the following is claimed.:

1. In a dispensing device for containers, in com-4 bination, a wall having therein a dispensing, opening and a mounting opening, Va rotary closure member having an opening and being positioned adjacent to said dispensing opening to open and close the same, an operating memberhaving a stem rotatably mounted in and extending through said mounting opening of said wall, said stem having a flattened surface and'extending through said opening in said closure membensaid closure memberopening having an edge portion engaging with the flattened part of the stem to provide a rotary transmitting connectionwhereby` the stern -and closure member 'aresecured 'against relativel rotationv and rotary movements of the stem arev transmitted tothe closure Amember to open and close the dispensingopening;Y said stem having opposed locking shoulders Vangularly ,displaced from said flattened surface, thereof., and a locking devicev for holding said sterny and closure member in assembled operative position including swingable locking tabs with free swing.- l

inwardly and automatically position said swinging ends thereof in interlocking relation with said locking shoulders so as to maintain said closure member in substantially tight sift-proof relaopening of said wall for opening and closing the closure device, a sheet member forming a part of said closure device and serving as a locking member positioned inside of said wall, said sheet locking member having an opening and said stem extending therethrough and having connection with said locking member so as to secure the stem and locking member against relativeV rotation,

said stem having a locking shoulder, and a locking device for holding said stem in assembled operative position, including a locking tab swingably connected to said sheet locking member, said locking tab having a free 'swinging end and being positioned for Yengagement by said stem during insertion thereof so as to swing said tab inwardly and to automatically position said free swinging end thereof into interlocking relation with said locking shoulder so as to lock said sheet locking lmem-ber and said stem against separation and to maintain said closure device in tight substantially sift-proof condition.

3. In a dispensing device for containers, in combination, a wall having therein a dispensing opening and a mounting opening, a closure device for said dispensing opening including an operating member having a flattened stem with shoulders angularly disposed from the attened part thereof and being rotatably mounted in said mounting opening, said dispensing device also including a sheet member serving as a locking member and also as a closure member for said dispensing opening and being positioned inside of said wall, said sheet locking and closure member having an opening for receiving the inner end of said flattened stem and being provided with slits adjacent to its opening forming inwardly swingable locking tabs on said locking and closure member having free swinging ends and normally lying in the plane' of said sheet closure member, said locking tabs Vbeing engageable by the entering end of said flattened stem to swing them inwardly and to automatically cause entry of said swinging ends thereof into interlocking relation with said stem shoulders so as to maintainsaid sheet locking and closure member in tight substantially sift-proof position with reference to said wall, said closure member opening having an edge portion engaging with the iiattened part of the stem whereby said stem and closure member are secured against relative rotation so as to transmit rotary movements of the stem to the Vclosure member Vto open and close the dispensing opening, and to avoid accidental release of said locking tabs.

WILLIAM A. SMITH. WILLIAM W. SMITH. 

